New Commander for Military Personnel Command

News Release

June 26, 2015

OTTAWA – Lieutenant-General Christine Whitecross assumed the Command of Military Personnel Command today from Lieutenant-General David Millar, in a ceremony held at Cartier Square Drill Hall that was presided over by General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff.

Quick Facts

Lieutenant-General Whitecross, who enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1982, has previously served as Chief of Staff for the Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) and Chief Military Engineer of the CAF.
As Commander of Military Personnel Command, Lieutenant-General Whitecross’ priorities will be to optimize personnel selection, training and professional development, care for our people and their families, and recognize their service and sacrifice.
In the coming months and years, Military Personnel Command will be undertaking a number of initiatives that are crucial to the success of the CAF as a whole, including: developing a new department-wide retention strategy, optimizing the personnel generation process through the recent establishment of Military Personnel Generation Formation, fostering an improved transition program for members who are leaving the CAF and looking for a new career, and improving services and programs both for members and their families, among others.
Lieutenant-General Whitecross will continue to provide leadership and guidance to the CAF Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct.
Lieutenant-General Millar will retire after 35 years of service. An Aerospace Engineer by trade, he has previously served as Commander of Joint Task Force North between 2008 and 2010 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and, more recently, with the Privy Council Office in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat as a Director of Operations.
As Commander of Military Personnel Command, Lieutenant-General Millar was a strong advocate for the CAF Mental Health Strategy; a strategy that provides the competences, tools, and support necessary to provide the best possible mental health care for military personnel.
In response to the fall 2013 report of the CAF Ombudsman and Chief Review Services, Lieutenant-General Millar supported the creation of the National Military Family Council Family Panel to enhance the effectiveness of the CAF’s listening to and responding to the needs of military families.
Lieutenant-General Millar also advanced innovative measures to modernize CAF recruiting, simplify personnel evaluation, cultivate corporate donations in support of our troops as well as promote greater CAF-Veterans Affairs Canada cooperation in helping military personnel transition beyond the uniform.

Quotes

“It is an honour for me to effectively pass the torch from one great leader to another. Under the superb leadership of Lieutenant-General Dave Millar, Military Personnel Command has worked tirelessly to serve the interests of our Canadian Armed Forces members and their families across the country. I have absolute confidence that Lieutenant-General Chris Whitecross will continue to propel this command forward, drawing from her own wealth of experience and leadership.”
General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff

“I am pleased to be taking over as Commander of Military Personnel Command, and look forward to working each day in service of our Canadian Armed Forces Members and their families. This appointment is a great honour just as it is the start of a long road ahead.”
Lieutenant-General Christine Whitecross, New Commander of Military Personnel Command

“What makes the Canadian Armed Forces great are the people who make up its ranks. It has been an absolute honour to have served the men and women of the CAF.”
Lieutenant-General David Millar, Outgoing Commander of Military Personnel Command

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Military Personnel Command

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New Commander for Military Personnel Command

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